what to avoid after getting a tattoo

13 Things to Avoid After Getting a New Tattoo

1. Ignoring the Tattoo Artist Aftercare Instructions. This is super critical, dude. Not listening to your tattoo artist...
2. Petroleum-Based Products. We don’t love ‘em. Ok, let's be blunt. We don’t even LIKE them for tattoos. Most...
3. Harsh Or Scented Soaps. We all have scented soaps in our house, and after all, soap is...

Full Answer

Can you drink caffeine before getting a tattoo?

Never consume caffeine or alcohol the night before a tattoo. Because they dilute ... at least two litres of water every day. Drinking plenty of water keeps our skin smooth and healthy. 3. Finally, before getting a tattoo, be sure your tattoo artist is ...

What to eat before getting a tattoo?

What to Eat Before a Tattoo

• Drink Plenty of Water Before Tattoo. Proper fluid levels in your body can significantly help you to keep you refreshed during tattooing. ...
• Have Some Protein. Protein contains about 20 different amino acids that work to keep your muscle and bone stronger and provide you a lot of energy.
• Consume Vitamin C. ...
• Eat Foods Rich in Vitamin A. ...
• Eat Foods Rich in Zinc. ...

What to consider before getting your first tattoo?

23 Things You Need to Know Before Getting Your First Tattoo

• Prices vary depending on size. Tattoo parlors adjust prices based on the size and style of the tattoo you want. ...
• DON'T go bargain hunting. Many parlors have minimum prices (usually $50 or $100), so a tiny heart tattoo, for example, shouldn't cost much more than that.
• You CAN be allergic to tattoo ink. ...
• Look into the parlor beforehand. ...

What are the healing phases of a tattoo?

Tattoo Healing Stages . A normal healing tattoo will go through three broad stages of healing. Days 1 to 3: Inflammation . It is normal for a tattoo to be red, swollen, and tender for the first 48 to 72 hours. There may also be some oozing of blood and/or ink during this time period. Adam notes that these symptoms should improve significantly ...

What should I not do after getting a tattoo?

You shouldn't:cover your tattoo with sunblock until it's fully healed.scratch or pick at the tattoo.wear tight clothing over the tattoo.go swimming or immerse your body in water (showers are fine)

What will mess up a tattoo?

7 Things That Can Ruin Your New TattooBad art from a bad artist. ... Keeping your fresh tattoo covered too long. ... Tattoo Infections. ... Sleeping with a fresh tattoo. ... Cleaning and excess water exposure. ... Picking or scratching itchy or peeling skin. ... Excessive sun exposure. ... Getting older and aging skin.

What is the best thing to do after tattooing?

Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage. Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water and be sure to pat dry. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don't put on another bandage.

Can I wear clothes over my new tattoo?

You can wear loose clothes over the wrap and not really worry about it. However, when you remove the wrap, loose clothes are essential, because you cannot simply keep the tattoo wrapped forever. It needs air to breathe and dry out, clot, and form scabs.

Why is my tattoo fading after 3 days?

The reason being, is that a tattoo “fades” to the naked eye within days of application. This occurs because as the skin heals, the top layer dies and new skin forms to take its place. During this period the epidermis typically has a faded appearance.

How can I speed up my tattoo healing?

There are some things you can do to speed up the healing process.Cover tattoo with clothing. Sunlight can cause your tattoo to fade, and fresh tattoos are especially sensitive to the sun. ... Don't re-bandage after you take off the initial dressing. ... Clean daily. ... Apply ointment. ... Don't scratch or pick. ... Avoid scented products.

Can I shower with a new tattoo?

The bottom line. Showering with a new tattoo isn't only fine; it's necessary for the sake of good hygiene. As long as you follow the aftercare instructions your tattoo artist gives you, and you're careful not to rub or soak your tattoo, showering shouldn't interfere with the healing process of your new ink.

How do you sleep with a new tattoo?

A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on. Others recommend re-wrapping, or just applying healing ointment and keeping the tattoo clean. The important thing is avoiding infection.

1. Doing Nothing After Getting a Tattoo

It’s amazing how common it is that people don’t practice tattoo aftercare once the antiseptic bandage applied by the tattoo artist is removed and the excess ink is wiped away.

2. Exposure to Direct Sunlight

Direct exposure to sunlight while your new tattoo knits and heals can be detrimental to both your skin and the tattoo ink.

4. Shaving

This recommendation is dependent on the placement of your new tattoo. If your fresh body art is in an area where you would normally shave, like under your arm, legs, scalp, face or neck, hold off until it’s fully healed.

5. Neosporin and Medicated Ointment

Using some medicated products, like Neosporin and Bacitracin could cause the body to reject it or heal too quickly, creating an allergic reaction that could involve a significant rash or series of tiny red dots.

6. Excess Exposure to Water

You can get your tattoo wet during the tattoo aftercare process, but make sure you don’t soak in water of any type for at least three weeks or until the tattoo heals in full.

8. Over-Treating the Tattoo

In the wet healing method of tattoos aftercare moisturization is crucial for it to heal but applying too much aftercare product or soap is equally as damaging to how tattoo heals as doing nothing.

10. Excess Sweating

Some degree of sweating is to be expected. However, sweating too much is not good for the first weeks after getting inked. Avoid participating in heavy sweating activities or gym sessions until at least the second round of layered tattoo peeling is complete.

What to Avoid After Getting a Tattoo

To many people, a tattoo is not only just a piece of art. They considered a tattoo as a fantastic way to express their style. Tattooing is a medical process too, because you’re getting a needle injected into your skin to insert the ink.

Is It OK To Put Nothing On A New Tattoo?

There are two different methods of healing your new tattoo, which is Dry healing and Wrap healing. When you put nothing on a new tattoo, it is called dry healing. Dry healing and wrap healing is almost similar in the case of keeping your skin moist.

Can I Drink After Getting A Tattoo?

If you ask your doctor about drink just after surgery, what will be the answer? Obviously no. The fact is similar after getting a tattoo. As we mentioned before, tattooing is a medical process, and many risk factors are associated with a new tattoo.

Can We Smoke After Tattoo?

If you think smoking after getting a tattoo is a normal fact, then you might be wrong. Smoking causes deoxygenation in our tissue and cardiovascular system, which ultimately slows down the healing process.

Does Alcohol Remove Tattoo Ink?

Alcohol has some properties that can liquify your ink. This is why many people use alcohol as an inexpensive and temporary tattoo remover. However, the whole thing means that you shouldn’t use alcohol on an unhealed tattoo at all.

Can I Put Vaseline On My Tattoo?

The tattoo aftercare routine seems complicated for many people, especially for those who have never dealt with it before. However, if we talk about the easiest part of tattoo aftercare, putting Vaseline on a fresh tattoo will come first.

Can I Swim With a Tattoo?

In short, you can’t swim after getting a tattoo at all. Generally, you will get your tattoo wrapped with a special waterproof patch that protects your tattoo from sweating or soaking.

How long should I use aftercare for a tattoo?

Therefore, while your actions are well-meaning, you may actually be encouraging an infection. Only use a thin layer of product on your tattoo at least twice a day for approximately 3-5 days. You want to be sure that you do so as soon as your tattoo has fully dried anytime that you wash it. These products will definitely help to encourage proper healing, just remember that there is too much of a good thing.

How long should I leave a bandage on my tattoo?

If your tattoo artist has taken the time to carefully bandage the area (which every good tattoo artist will do) then you need to be sure to leave it on for a minimum of two hours, although a little longer is highly recommended.

How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?

This may require a slight shift in your wardrobe choices, but it’s worth it! After approximately 3-4 weeks, when the initial healing phase is completed, you can start to use sunscreen – Make this a priority!

How long should I use a thin layer of product on a tattoo?

Only use a thin layer of product on your tattoo at least twice a day for approximately 3-5 days. You want to be sure that you do so as soon as your tattoo has fully dried anytime that you wash it.

What is a new tattoo?

A new tattoo is an incredibly exciting time, whether it’s your first time going under the gun or your 20 th. Each piece is a unique and beautiful work of art, one that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Leading up to your tattoo appointment, most people will take the time to research their options, which tattoo artist they should trust, ...

Can you use loofahs on a tattoo?

The biggest mistake at this stage is the use of loofahs and sponges to help get yourself clean. While you may love these products on a regular basis to help exfoliate your skin, using them around a new tattoo will ‘exfoliate’ the scabs right off preventing healing and causing damage to the work.

Can you pick up a tattoo while healing?

Picking at your scabs or scratching your tattoo during healing can cause the scabs to fall off before they are ready, leaving you with lighter patches in the work or even holes. Resist the temptation, keep your hands off and allow it to heal. #10. Sun Protection Is Key!

What to eat after getting a tattoo?

These foods include fresh sausage, smoked sausage and ham. So, avoiding these types of food in your diet is an excellent way of complementing treatment for those with skin problems or any kind of acute inflammation, as may happen after a tattoo. However, it’s important to remember that, after being tattooed, it’s also important to look after ...

How long after a tattoo can you eat?

Ideally, these foods should not be eaten, and should not be consumed for at least 1 week after a surgery, piercing or tattoo, for example.

What foods should I avoid?

The main examples of food that should be avoided include: Ready-made juices and sodas; Fried foods, such as chips, pastries and other savory foods, fast food; Pork and processed meats such as fresh and smoked sausage, ham, bacon, mortadella and salami; Sweets, stuffed biscuits, cakes, ready-made cakes, chocolates, ...

Wearing Tight Clothing

You need to make sure you avoid wearing tight clothing. Your tattoo is going to take some time to heal. Therefore, you need to allow it to breathe. If you wear tight clothing, you may prevent oxygen from getting to the tattoo. It may end up taking your tattoo longer to heal. Furthermore, you may also irritate the skin.

Immersing Yourself in the Water

You should also avoid immersing yourself in the water immediately after getting a tattoo. For example, you need to avoid jumping in a swimming pool, going in the ocean, or going for a swim in the lake. The tattoo is still fresh, and your skin is still healing. Exposing it to the water is not the best idea.

Scratching the Tattoo

Finally, you need to make sure that you avoid scratching the tattoo. Your skin is probably going to be itchy after you get the tattoo placed. There are small needles that are going to be responsible for making the tattoo, so your skin is going to be a bit irritated. Even though you may be tempted to scratch it, you do need to avoid doing this.

Protect Your Tattoo After it Is Done

These are a few examples of things you need to avoid if you plan on getting a tattoo in the near future. Because there are plenty of tattoo options available, you need to take the time to work with a professional who can set you up with the right option. That way, you know you are going to be happy with the result.

What to do if you have a tattoo on your upper body?

If it does, take it out of your workout. Consider exercises that don’t involve the newly tattooed area. For example, core or arm work may be fine if your tattoo is on your lower body. Squats and lunges may be OK if your tattoo is on your upper body.

How to get a tattoo to heal?

Along with allowing time to heal, take into consideration the size and location of your new tattoo when deciding when to work out again and what exercises to do. Before committing to a specific exercise, try a relaxed walk. Note whether the movement tugs or pulls at your tattoo. If it does, take it out of your workout.

How long does it take for a tattoo to heal?

The important words are “at least.”. It generally takes 4 to 6 weeks. for a wound to heal.

Can you expose a tattoo to sunlight?

expose your tattoo to bacteria (which may be on surface areas in the gym) overstretch your tattoo or chafe it with clothing. expose your tattoo to sunlight. Not taking proper care of your new tattoo can result in delayed healing and potentially damage the long-term look of it. Last medically reviewed on April 2, 2020.

Is a tattoo an open wound?

The tattooing process involves breaking the skin with hundreds of tiny puncture wounds. Essentially, it’s an open wound. One of the ways that germs enter your body is through open skin. Gym equipment can harbor harmful bacteria.

Can you soak a tattoo before it heals?

Soaking your new tattoo before it has healed can break down the ink. Swimming in chemically treated pools can result in infection and irritation. Swimming in lakes, oceans, and other natural bodies of water can expose the open skin of your new tattoo to harmful bacteria.